Mental Edge: Leadership and the role it plays on the team

What is the leadership like on your team? How is the culture within your team?

Does the leader influence and support the culture? Leadership — or, effective leadership — can often be hard to find on a team. Sometimes, the best player on the team might be designated as leader or captain. In other instances, the players with seniority regularly become captain due to their experience.

But that person might not be suited for the position.

Some athletes are naturally gifted and have incredible talents, but their attitude and attention is focused solely on themselves. Some players are not built to take on what’s expected of them in the way of being a leader and mentor.